For the second game in the Cattolica Test Match 2018, the Italian national rugby team returns to the pitch at the Stadio Euganeo, which will host two-time world champions Australia on 17 November. The second-leg match of the tests leading to the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan was presented this morning during a press conference organised by FIR and Cattolica Assicurazioni in the Municipality of Padua. It was attended by Paduan mayor Sergio Giordani and national veteran Alessandro Zanni. Under the passionate eye of Venetian spectators, the Azzurri will play against one of the world’s best ranking teams, one of only three teams – alongside the All Blacks and England – ever beaten by Italrugby in previous direct face-offs. 

Emanuela Vecchiet, Director of Communications and Institutional Relations for the Cattolica Assicurazioni Group, stated: “For the second Cattolica Test Match, the world of rugby has a truly compelling game before it: Italy will take to the pitch against Australia, one of the top teams in the world. Padua is one of the Italian cities that most closely and passionately follows this sport and where a long-standing rugby tradition has taken root. Because of this, we are even happier to offer fans a day of great sportsmanship hosted in Veneto where 120 years ago, the Cattolica story began.”